Leave the Porch Light On (Poem)
This is partly influenced by our work translating the Tao Te Ching, chapter 70, which starts:
“My teachings are obvious, and effortless to practice. Yet nobody seems to understand what I’m saying much less how to pull it off.”—Lao Tzu
The point being: repentance and awakening or whatever you call it is both easy and impossible. It’s clear yet obscure. The only way to see it is to stop trying. The way to grace is to abandon meritorious works and then overflow with desire to serve. One of the possible hindrances is the folks who are the official representatives of the institutions that sell enlightenment.
It starts by reflecting the moments of enthusiasm when seeing something brilliant, a glimpse of a little beatific vision, but then becomes frustrated by daily life, and yet is buoyed by hope that ultimately all will return to the source of the vision.
“Coming to my senses.
Enlightenment.
Repentance.
Awakening.
Boon upon boon.
Peace upon peace.
I sometimes chalk it up to luck.
My knuckles burn though.
Couldn’t you hear
I was knocking all this time?
My eyes sting.
Were you waiting
till I ran out of tears?
I could have stopped running
had the map not been torn,
had the road not been blocked by men
wearing your logo on their drab lapels,
at checkpoints on the pothole highway.
I’ve not yet arrived
but I’ve caught a glimpse of the way,
enough to never lose my way for long.
So leave the porch light on
I’ll be home soon enough.”